HR software helps police force knock 80% off overtime costs

West Midlands Police is considering implementing a workforce management system across its entire operation after the software helped it to cut overtime costs at its call centre by 80%.

Director of personnel at the force, David Williams, said the system had dramatically improved staff performance and attendance levels since it was introduced in April 2004. He estimated that the system, from supplier GMT, had led to efficiency savings of 180,000, by reducing turnover levels at the call centre from nearly 16% to less than 2%.

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The force is now assessing whether to implement the system across its 21 operational centres, Williams said.

Last year, the West Midlands force managed to reduce absence levels for police officers to just 46.25 hours each a year – the second lowest for a UK police force – by introducing a voucher scheme for good attendance.